Carrel unit



March 17, 1936. l A, vs; MA`CDONALD 2,034,261

CARREL UNIT n TMW ATTORNEYJ' i 17, 1936. A. s. MAclpoNALD 2,034,251

cARRELfUNIT Filed Maron 25, 1934 2 sheets-sneet 2Y` INVENTOR.

` ATTQRNEYJ Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE C'ARREL UNIT Application March 23, 1934, Serial No. 716,986

6 Claims.

This invention relates to carrel units, i. e., units used for reading and studying purposes in libraries and the like, and has for its primary object, the provision of simple and compact units by means of which the space needed for them is put to effective use not only for reading and studying purposes, but also for additional shelving purposes as will hereinafter appear.

Stated more speciiically, I aim to provide a carrel unit of desk form having shelving arranged in a novel manner to provide ample desk surface, shelf space arranged to be convenient to the user' for keeping books he is currently using, shelf sp-ace for folio volumes and oversize books, arranged to be conveniently accessible and without annoyance to the user of the unit, and shelf space for other books such as special reservebooks and/or books discarded by the user of a unit, also arranged to be conveniently accessible.

Among other advantages, my invention conserves space in libraries or the like by providing extra accommodation for folio volumes and other books, not provided in known carrel units consisting simply of a partition carrying a desk and having one or two shelves for the use of the person working at the desk, and having a back which is unused and in fact unavailable for use as book holding space when the units are used in libraries or the like where the customary spacing between stack ranges is approximately 4 feet 4 inches.

Another obj ect is to provide a carrel unit adapted for use at the ends of stack ranges of the above spacing, having its desk top and shelving so arranged as not to cut down the aisle space between ranges and yet to provide a very substantial amount of space for books yand folio volumes which is readily accessible not only to users of the units, but to others, Without annoyance to 40 the users.

Other objects reside in certain features of construction hereinafter fully appearing.

How the foregoing, together with such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear, or are incident to my invention, are realized is illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section through a carrel unit constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Cil

(Cl. L1:5-45) Fig. 4 is a plan section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a more or less diagrammatic plan section illustrating a pair of carrel units located adjacent a building wall, the section of the left 5 hand unit being taken as on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, and that of the right hand unit as on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the unit.

Fig. 7 is a rear view of the unit. 10

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan View illustrating an end plate arrangement for the unit; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged plan section of a modiiied construction as if taken on the line 2 2 Of Fig. 1. 15

My improved carrel unit is preferably of sheet metal construction and comprises Ain Vgeneral a lower portion or section 9 of desk height, a desk top I0 supported thereon, and an upper portion or section II, supported on the desk top I0.

The lower portion 9 of the unit is provided with end walls I2, a front Wall I3, a bottom I4 spaced somewhat above the floor of the building, a plurality of shelves I5, and an open back indicated at I6. A closure such as a rolling metal- 25 lic curtain I1, may be provided for the open back. The curtain operates in guide rails I8 secured to the side Walls of the lower section 9 and extending vertically and then substantially horizontally under the desk top.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the side or end walls I2 of the lower portion 9 are each constructed of an inner plate I9 and an outer spaced plate 20 which has its edge portion 2| rebent and its edge portion 22 double flanged around the corre- 35 spending edge of the inner plate I9, thus giving a finished appearance to the wall. The inner side plates I9 of the end walls, and the front wall I3 are preferably constructed of a single sheet of metal bent as illustrated in Fig. 4. An inwardly extending flange 23 is provided at the lower edge of the wall I3 with which the bottom 'plate VI4 engages, and this bottom plate is downwardly bent to provide a lower rear wall portion 24 for closing the space between the bottom I4 and the 45 I floor. The lower edge of the portion 24 may be rebent for stiffening purposes. The bottom I4 is reinforced at a point somewhat in from the front wall I3 by means of a sheet metal member 25 .of channel shape, it being pointed out that the location of this member is such as to provide a toe space 26 for vthe user of the unit. The shelves are adjustably supported from the side walls vby means of pegs 21 adapted to Vfit apertures 21a.

The desk top I0 is in the vform of a fiat .pleite 55 desk surface and to provide ample knee room for the user of the unit.

The upper portion or section is provided with lower shelf spaces 29 and 30 and upper shelf spaces 3| and 32, and although I have only shown four such spaces, it is to be understood that the number thereof may be increased.

The lower shelf spaces 29 and 30 open at the front of the unit or towards the person using Ythe unit, and the upper shelf spaces 3| and 32 preferably open at the rear of the unit, there being a closed back 33 provided for the lower spaces and a closed front 34 for the upper spaces. If desired, all of the shelf spaces of the upper section may open at the front of the unit. The side walls 35 are of a construction similar to that of the side walls yof the lower portion 9, as will be seen from inspection of Figs. 2 and 3. Also, the shelves 36 and 31 are constructed and supported in a manner similar to the shelves l5 of the lower portion. A bottom 38 is provided for the shelf space 3| which in this instance is formed of one piece, with the back wall 33 and which rests and may be secured to the lower inturned edge porltion V39 of the front wall 34. A top Ila is also detachably secured to the lower portion 9 for convenience in shipping, as by means of bolts 40 Vpassing through inturned flanges 4| of the side and back walls and through the desk top I0. As pointed out above, the desk top l0 is also detachably secured in place and may therefore be detached forv convenience in shipping.

It should be noted that the lower self space 3|! provides additional depth to the desk top and accommodates a lighting unit 42. The shelf space 29 provides a convenient place for the userof the unit to keep books that he is currently using. The upper shelf spacesV 3| and 32 may be used for ordinary book storage or for special reserve books, or for the discardedbooks of the user, and when these spaces open at the back for access from the rear, they are readily accessible to a person using the adjacent carrel unit.V The shelf spaces of the lower portion 9 are of considerably greater depth than the shelf spaces of the upper portion and are useful for the accommodation of oversize books, especially large folio volumes. Since these spaces open at the back and are accessible from the rear of the unit, it will be seen that the contents may be deposited or removed without having to stoop under the overhanging desk top and without disturbing or annoying the person working at the desk. Also, the fact that the upper shelf spaces 3| and 33 open at the back of the unit makes them accessible to an attendant without annoyance to the .user of the unit in which the spaces are provided, or to the user of the next adjacent unit.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a plurality of units located at the windows of a wall of the building and spaced apart a distance such that they would come opposite the ends of the stack ranges units for book storage purposes as Well as for reading and studying purposes, I have provided a novel arrangement of shelving or shelf spaces, the lower of which are adapted to accommodate oversize books and large folio volumes, the upper to accommodate other books of smaller or standard size, and the intermediate of which are arranged for the convenience of the user of the unit.

It will thus be seen that these units constitute, in effect an extension of the library, because the shelves below the desk top provide space for the holding of oversize books and folio volumes which would otherwise have to be provided for by special facilitiesr in the regular standard stack shelving of the library. In addition, the uppermost shelf spaces provide a place for special books, for reserve books, or for books discarded by persons using the carrels, all of which may be stored and removed with little or no annoyance to the users of the units.

In order to give greater privacy to the users of the units, and to better shut off the study space from the adjacent aisle, I contemplate employing Y end plates 43 extending forwardly to the front edge of the desk top, and preferably, for" the full height of the unit (see Fig. 8). These end plates may be detachably secured in place, and the front edges thereof may be triple flanged as indicated at 44.

In the modication of Fig. 9, I have illustrated a side wall 45 constructed of a plate having triple flanged upright edges 46 to which the back walls and front walls, such as the wall 34,` are secured, as by spot welding. In this construction, the shelves are supported by pegs 41 fitting apertures in the triple flanged edges of the side Walls. Y Y

I claim: V Y

1. A carrel unit adapted vfor study and book storage purposes in a library, comprising a lower shelved portion of desk height and of a depth to accommodate folio volumes, a desk top supported on said portion and overhangng it at the portions and the desk top being so relatively disposed that the rears thereof lie in approximately the same plane.

2. A carrel unit of sheet metal construction for use in a library for study and book storage purposes, comprising a lower portion of desk height having end walls, a front wall, an open back, and shelves dividing it into a plurality of shelf spaces, access to which is had through the open back; a desk top supported on said lower portion and overhanging it; and an upper portion supported from the lower portion and having end walls, a top, a back wall extending upwardly for part of'its height, a front wall extending downwardly from the top Vto the height to which said back wall extends, an open front opposite the back wall, an open back opposite the front wall, and shelves dividing it into a plurality of shelf spaces, the lower of which are accessible through said open front and the upper of which are accessible through said open back, said upper portion being of one standard book depth throughout its height.

3. A carrel unit adapted for study and book storage purposes in a library comprising a lower shelved portion of desk height and of a depth to accommodate folio volumes, a desk top supported on said portion and overhanging it at the front to provide leg room, and an upper shelved portion supported at the rear portion of the desk top with its rear in the same plane as the rear of the lower shelved portion, said lower portion having an open back providing access to its shelving from the rear of the unit, and having a closed front terminating at its bottom at a distance above the floor level to provide a toe space at its lower front portion.

4. A carrel unit adapted for study and book storage purposes in a library comprising a shelved portion of desk height and a desk top supported on said portion and overhanging it at the front an amount to give sufficient knee room but insufficient toe space to the user of the unit, said shelved portion having an open back providing access to the shelving from the rear, a bottom shelf spaced above the floor level, a wall portion extending downwardly from said bottom shelf to the floor level and set back from the front of said shelf whereby a toe space is provided, and a closed front for said portion terminating at the bottom at said lower shelf.

5. A carrel unit for use in libraries for studyv ranged for access from the rear of the unit, a desk top supported on said lower shelving and overhanging it at the front to provide leg room, said lower shelving having a bottom shelf spaced above the floor level and a wall portion extending downwardly from said bottom shelf to the floor level and set back from the front of said shelf whereby a toe space is provided at its lower front portion, and shelving above said desk top at the rear thereof, of less depth than the lower shelving but of sufficient depth to accommodate books of standard size, said lower and upper shelving and the desk top being so relatively disposed that the rears thereof lie in approximately the same plane.

6. A carrel unit adapted for study and book storage purposes in a library comprising a lower shelved portion of a depth to accommodate folio volumes, said portion having a closed front and open back for access from the rear, an upper shelved portion of one standard book depth throughout its height, said upper portion having the lower part of its back closed and the upper part of its back open and the lower part of its front open and the upper part of its front closed whereby access to the lower shelving of said upper shelved portion is from the front and to the upper shelving thereof from the rear, and a desk top between said lower and upper portions, said portions and desk top having their rears in approximately the same plane and their fronts in different planes with the desk top overhanging the lower shelved portion to provide leg room.

ANGUS SNEAD MACDONALD. 

